Intended outcome

Further develop the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel and associated technical working groups to allow for agile, strategic and constructive engagement

Progress

GREEN

The Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) considered a number of significant matters, including regulations for flight operations, dangerous goods, continuing airworthiness for general aviation and aerial work aircraft, and fatigue. To enable this to occur, the ASAP established technical working groups that met 19 times to review draft regulations and provide feedback so that industry’s position could be provided by the ASAP to the Director of Aviation Safety.

The ASAP secretariat met key timeframes for the dissemination of information to technical working groups and ASAP members.

Intended outcome

Collaborate with Federal, State and local government organisations on local and national safety issues such as remotely piloted aircraft systems and airport-related issues

Progress

GREEN

CASA attended four Aviation Implementation Group and five Aviation Policy Group meetings and the inaugural meeting of the portfolio Civil and Defence Aviation Coordination Group.

CASA continued to facilitate timely and accurate responses to correspondence from all levels of government, with reference to supporting requests for advice. The most common topics of correspondence were remotely piloted aircraft systems, airports, infrastructure matters relating to planning approvals, licensing, and aviation medicine.

During 2018–19, CASA provided 312 responses to correspondence from federal, state or local government bodies, 115 ministerial responses and nine ministerial submissions. Active monitoring of correspondence timelines is continuing.

Intended outcome

Focus on building strong relationships with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand to support Trans-Tasman policy outcomes, including collaboration on medical certification and flight crew authorisations

Progress

GREEN

CASA worked closely with New Zealand on preparations for the 13th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Navigation Conference, including by sharing positions and developing joint approaches where appropriate on the Global Aviation Safety Plan, Global Air Navigation Plan, and Global Aviation Safety Oversight System. New Zealand co-sponsored a number of papers for the conference, on topics including a target risk assessment approach for the development of standards and recommended practices; increased priority for ICAO resourcing in the Asia-Pacific region; and harmonising system-wide information management. Collaborating formally in putting regional positions to global forums was discussed during a meeting with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA NZ) in December 2018.

CASA reached a milestone in the relationship with the CAA NZ with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on aviation safety on 26 March 2019 by CASA’s CEO and the CAA NZ’s Director of Civil Aviation. The memorandum formalises cooperation on technical assistance, exchange programs, training, sharing of safety information and confidence-building exercises for developing technical arrangements.

The memorandum enhanced the existing relationship, which was well formed through the application and oversight of the Australia New Zealand Aviation Mutual Recognition Principle and the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997, both of which were the subject of operational liaison visits and ongoing policy review in 2018–19.

CASA and CAA NZ board members met in March 2019. They noted the achievements in the areas of recognition and cooperation and the ongoing work to ensure that existing arrangements meet the needs of CASA and the CAA NZ; the joint efforts for the 13th ICAO Air Navigation Conference and ongoing policy work between CASA, CAA NZ and Transport Canada Civil Aviation to take forward priorities to the 40th ICAO Assembly; and the momentum of work in the Pacific and strategic opportunities for coordinated engagement.

CASA and CAA NZ representatives met in the margins of the United States Federal Aviation Administration Asia-Pacific Bilateral Partners Dialogue Meeting in Queenstown, New Zealand, on 16–18 April 2019, to discuss airworthiness approvals.

Intended outcome

Expand formal international, regional and multi-lateral arrangements with counterpart like-minded agencies that recognise mutual safety outcomes to reduce regulatory duplication and costs to Australian industry

Collaboration between CASA, the CAA NZ and Transport Canada Civil Aviation is on track under the trilateral arrangement signed in June 2018.

CASA undertook surveillance of flight crew licensing examinations being conducted in Fiji, under an arrangement with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji.

CASA representatives attended the European Aviation Safety Agency – United States Federal Aviation Administration International Aviation Safety Conference in Cologne, Germany, in June 2019. CASA discussed next steps to progress the development of certification arrangements on airworthiness with the European Aviation Safety Agency and recognition of maintenance approvals with Canada and New Zealand.

The CEO also hosted a meeting with the Civil Aviation Administration of China to discuss safety priorities and the active bilateral arrangement between agencies.

Intended outcome

Respond to aviation risks from emerging technologies including through participation in relevant International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forums

CASA representation on ICAO panels and working groups remains in line with priorities agreed by the portfolio tripartite management meeting on ICAO engagement. Commitments under the multi-agency memorandum of understanding for ICAO engagement are being met.

CASA contributed to the development of the ICAO Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum and participated in the forum’s inaugural meeting, hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore on 16–17 May 2019.

Significant work is being undertaken by transport agencies in preparation for the 40th ICAO Assembly, to be held in September and October 2019. Australia will push to have outcomes from the 13th ICAO Air Navigation Conference carried forward at the assembly and reflected in ICAO’s triennial budget.

CASA is working with other agencies to prepare papers for the assembly on topics such as: development of effective and appropriate State Safety Programs; implementation of the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System standards; implementation of priority recommendations from the Group of Experts for a Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) Continuous Monitoring Approach Structured Review; resourcing of the ICAO Asia and Pacific Office; implementation of ICAO Annex 12 (Search and Rescue); environmental issues around remotely piloted aircraft systems; and the importance of the Global Air Navigation Plan executive summary.

Australia’s candidacy for membership of Part I of the ICAO Council (States of chief importance in air transport) continues to be supported through key engagements, including the CEO’s attendance at the seventh World Civil Aviation Chief Executives Forum, held in Singapore on 8–10 April 2019.

Intended outcome

Partner with regulatory counterparts in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific to deliver projects to improve aviation safety oversight capacity in the region

Regional partnerships continue to strengthen through the Indonesia Transport Safety Assistance Package and the memorandum of understanding on aviation safety between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), with funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

CASA hosted delegations from Indonesia and PNG at the 38th Annual Conference of the Aviation Law Association of Australia and New Zealand, held in Melbourne on 1–3 May 2019, and coordinated discussions on State Safety Programs with Indonesian delegates. CASA also implemented the second phase of training plan development with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea (CASA PNG) in June 2019. This activity included the development of a training matrix for CASA PNG inspectorate staff.

CASA’s Indonesia focus is shifting to wildlife hazard management, flight training schools, surveillance report writing, aviation medical assessments, remotely piloted aircraft systems and organisational performance under program proposals developed in May 2019 for 2019–20.

In cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Airservices Australia, CASA is also considering its response to a request from the Air Navigation Administration of Timor-Leste for aviation safety assistance, including resourcing, scope and financial support. CASA met with Australia’s Head of Mission to Dili to discuss possible assistance. This matter has also been raised in the context of a proposed program of assistance for the Pacific region which is being coordinated by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development.

As part of ICAO’s Pacific Small Islands Developing States – Aviation Needs Analysis, CASA met with the ICAO team on 31 May 2019 to put forward agency positions on aviation safety needs in the Pacific.

CASA participated in a Pacific Aviation Safety Office Council meeting in Niue on 2–4 April 2019.

Intended outcome

Continue to develop and implement safety communication strategies in response to identified priority areas

Developmental market research was completed and creative concepts for a future advertising campaign for drone accreditation and registration were developed, along with a communication strategy and a retail engagement strategy. Work is underway to progress several supporting products and initiatives. Benchmark research was completed to provide an understanding of the level of awareness among the target audience.

During 2018–19, the aviation safety seminar program held 221 seminars, reaching over 8,500 members of the aviation community. The seminars and industry visits covered safety workshops for pilots, engineers and flight instructors and included topics such as organisational safety culture and human factors.

Intended outcome

Maintain a strong focus on developing plain-English regulatory guidance material

Progress

GREEN

A further 5,000 copies of the Visual Flight Rules Guide were printed following high sales of the product through the online store. This included an update for version 6.1 and an amendment pack sent to people who had purchased version 6 in November and December 2018.

The plain English guide to the new general operating and flight rules (Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 91) was progressed and the initial draft is intended to be published in the first quarter of 2019–20.